Model Viewer is a public-domain U.S. Geological Survey program that displays the results of U.S.G.S. three-dimensional ground-water models. Written by Paul Hsieh and Richard Winston, Model Viewer is straightforward to use and performs its limited functions well. The visualization engine is the Visualization ToolKit, an open source, freely available software system for three-dimensional computer graphics, image processing, and visualization.
Model Viewer allows scalar data, such as hydraulic head or concentration, to
be displayed as a solid or a set of isosurfaces. Directional data, such as velocity
or specific discharge, can be displayed as vectors representing direction and
magnitude. Model Viewer also displays pathlines, cells or nodes that represent
model features such as streams and wells, and auxiliary graphic objects such
as grid lines and coordinate axes. Users may crop the model grid in different
orientations to examine the interior structure of the data. For transient simulations,
Model Viewer animates the time evolution of the simulated quantities. Output
can be sent to a printer or to bitmap files at user-defined resolution for further
processing or animation.
The user manual is concisely written and offers a brief introduction to the
concepts. The detailed help system picks up where the user manual leaves off.
Model Viewer is an excellent way to visualize complex three-dimensional model
results and allows users to rotate the model view and consider it from many
perspectives. While the trackball method of changing the model view takes some
getting used to, it changes the view rapidly. The various viewing tools can
be left up on the screen so that options can be selected quickly. This flexible
visualization tool aids understanding of the simulated system. Unfortunately,
the software is limited in its function and there is not an option for annotating
the viewer window or the surfaces or tracks being displayed. The user needs
to postprocess the output for final presentation.
The current version of Model Viewer runs on Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000
and XP operating systems and supports the following models: MODFLOW-2000, MODFLOW-2000
with the Ground-Water Transport Process, MODFLOW-96, MOC3D Version 3.5), MODPATH,
MT3DMS, and SUTRA (Version 2D3D.1). Model Viewer is designed to read input and
output files directly from these models, thus minimizing the need for additional
postprocessing. Model Viewer is available for download from the U.S. Geologcial
Survey's website at http://water.usgs.gov/nrp/gwsoftware/modelviewer/ModelViewer.html.
Rating System 5=Excellent, 4=Very Good, 3=Good, 2=Satisfactory, 1=Poor Ease
of Use 4 GUI 4 Application 3 Output/Plotting 2 Documentation 4 Best Feature
3D Graphics Speed 5 Worst Feature Trackball Overall Rating 4
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Rating
System |
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Ease
of Use
|
4
|
GUI
|
4
|
|
Application
|
3
|
Output/Plotting
|
2
|
|
Documentation
|
4
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Best
Feature
|
3D
Graphics
|
|
Speed
|
5
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Worst
Feature
|
Trackball
|
|
Overall
Rating
|
4
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Last Update: August 2004